Principlism is an ethical theory applied particularly in relation to bioethics, divided in four prima facie: respect for autonomy, non maleficence, beneficence and justice. Respect for autonomy results in freedom to make choices without external control which is expected to be both accepted in binding in others (McLean, 2009). In this essay i am going to discuss the person’s autonomy and the role of the health care professional regarding the implementation of an advanced care directive including the features of a valid consent and how that relates to an advanced care directive, the importance of respecting a patients choices and the exceptions to this, when paternalism is ethically justified. These concepts will all be analysed from the perspective …show more content…
In a healthcare setting obtaining consent is essential before beginning a procedure or treatment (Koutoukidis & Hughson, 2012). In order for consent to be obtained it must be given voluntarily, cover the intervention about commence, the person must have legal capacity, and they must be sufficiently informed about the intervention. Consent may be withdrawn at any time, and if a health care practitioner acts without the consent of the patient, they may face assault and battery charges. (Koutoukidis & Hughson, 2012). An advanced care directive is a a legal document used by someone to dictate to others what choices they would like made in the event that they lose their ability to make these decisions themselves, or to appoint a nominated person to make these choices for them; if for example they are in a motor vehicle accident and suffer serious cerebral injury. These decisions include those relating to future health care, end of life care, personal arrangements and living arrangements, but not financial matters. In the event of a serious health issue, if the person has signed the advanced care directive, dictating that they refuse health care and it is directly relevant to the situation, then it is legal binding. All other aspects of the advanced care directive are only recommendations to the nominated person and/or the health care team (Advanced Care Directives - SA …show more content…
The patient then proceeded to become confused and disorientated. He was then discharged to a nursing home facility until he was cleared by his psychiatrists. After he was discharged, he failed to keep taking his antibiotics to eliminate the infection. He returned to the hospital several weeks later with a grossly purulent knee. The surgeons concluded that the only way for the infection to be controlled, was for the components of the knee replacement to be removed. J.s refused this because he didn’t want to lose the replacement knee (Capozzi & Rhodes, 2000). Therefore in this situation it would be ethical to override his decision. This is an example of the ethical theory of paternalism which is defined as ‘personal freedom and autonomy of a person (or class of persons) with a beneficent or protective intent’ (Britannica Academic, 2015). An example of a healthcare situation in which a nurse may use paternalism is for example; an elderly woman is incontinent in bed and is covered in her own body waste, but she is embarrassed and refuses to be washed. The nurse could go against the patients wishes because her intent is beneficent and the positive outweighs the negative in this
Make and keep your major health decisions with advance health care directives. While they vary by state, advance directives can carry significant importance, especially as one gets older and increasingly concerned with health care and end-of-life decisions. Typically, two basic advance directives can cover a patient’s needs: the durable power of attorney for health care and the living will. Both serve the purpose of empowering the individual concerning personal health care in the case of incapacitation by illness or injury.
The first individual right under the health care system is "rights related to receiving services provided under healthcare, health financing, or health insurance laws. An example of this right is the Patient Self Determination Act. This act is a federal law that requires health care organizations, such as hospitals and nursing homes to provide information on advance directives, must ask you whether you have an advance directive, and provide information of your rights under state law, such as the right to refuse treatment. This law ensures that a patient 's right to self-determination in health care decisions is communicated.
Attention getter: I will tell the importance of having an advance directive, the reasons that should make someone choose to prepare this document, and the benefits of having one Thesis Statement: Having an advance directive is a decision all middle age and elderly individual should make, and have when it’s needed, which allows you to get the care you prefer at the end of life. Question based on Thesis: Why not have one prepared and allow yourself to get the care you prefer
In the health care field, the concept of informed consent allows patients to make their own decisions regarding their health care. A patient and physician have a discussion about the details of a medical process. They must discuss risks, alternatives and outcome of treatment. If a patient agrees to the terms of treatment then they are allowing or giving consent to the physician. Patient education and communication are vital during this process.
To this day, your doctor aids the patient in understanding their medical condition and treatment, but ultimately, the patient is the one making the decision. For this highly debated topic, I will be agreeing with yes side because I believe that patient autonomy/informed consent is very important when it comes to making rational decisions about your health. I believe that Dan Brock and Steven Warman’s argument not only supports my decision, they also had very strong arguments to why patient autonomy is crucial in the medical field. On the contrary, Gordon Stirrat and Robin Gill say that whether the physician or patient makes a decision, all decisions should be respected based on a mutual level of trust between all
The ethical principle of autonomy provides for respect for the patient’s autonomy to make decisions and choices concerning their life and death. Respecting the patient’s autonomy goes against the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. There also exists the issue of religious beliefs the patient, family, or the caretaker holds, with which the caretaker has to grapple. The caretaker thus faces issues of fidelity to patient welfare by not abandoning the patient or their family, compassionate provision of pain relief methods, and the moral precept to neither hasten death nor prolong life.
Thus, it is important that guardians keep in mind the importance of allowing patients to be involved in as many decisions as their capacity allows. In fact, the law (§744.3215, F.S.) dictates rights for persons determined incapacitated. Specifically, a person determined to be incapacitated always retains the
If a patient becomes incapacitated en route to the hospital, hospital officials may still interface with certain family members to ensure that a patient’s rights relative to withholding or withdrawing treatment or advance directives are upheld. b. This was somewhat new information to me, because in emergency situations I thought that the doctors acted immediately because of EMTALA, but apparently, they still must check with the patient’s wishes or with the appointed decision maker or take out the advance directive. 3. How is the PSDA different from end of life care? a.
The four core ethical principles that are called into question in the movie “Miss Evers’ Boys” are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Autonomy refers to the right of the patient to function independently and the ability to self-direct. This means that patients are entitled to decide what will happen to them, and if deemed competent, they have the right to either consent to or refuse treatment. All nurses and healthcare personal would be required to respect the patient’s wishes, even if they do not agree with them. Beneficence is the core principle that refers to the act of ‘doing good’ and advocating for the patient.
Autonomy in the healthcare system can be defined as allowing patients make their decisions by choosing their preferred healthcare treatment plan, and making a decision on what they want without intrusion from the healthcare providers (Entwistle, 2010). This is considered as the act of an individual making un-coerced decisions (Griffith and Tengnah, 2008). In addition, in the current healthcare agenda, informed consent was included, which serves as a paradigm shift from the paternalism approach to respecting and valuing patient’s autonomy (Ferrell and Fraedrich, 2014; Alzhemier Europe,
Healthcare professionals must work on the assumption that every patient has the capacity to make decisions about their care, and to decide whether to agree to, or refuse, an examination or treatment. However, in the case that patients are deemed to be lacking capacity the Mental Capacity Act (2005), The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act (2000) legislations must be followed (General Medical Council, 2008). Gaining consent before providing care or treatment to any patient is very important because patient requires
(Cowey, 2012). By focussing on the four main principles, I will discuss autonomy, the right for the individual to make their own decisions regarding their health care treatment, which in this case will also involve a close connection with immediate family
Signed by a competent individual, an Advanced Directive is a legal document that manages medical and health-care decisions in the occurrence an individual becomes incapacitated. Advance Directives are not just for the elderly in a medical crisis nevertheless a medical crisis can happen at any age, at any time, leaving an individual unable to make health care decisions. Advance Directives act as a guide for making a patients choices known for doctors and caregivers if terminally ill, in a coma, near the end of life, critically injured, or in the late stages of Alzehmeiers and Dementia. There are several legal documents individuals can use when making their requests know and the procedures are simple for filling the forms out, however an attorney
The practice of health care includes many scenarios that have to do with making adequate decisions when it comes to a patient’s life, and the way they are treated. Having an ethical code in all health care organizations is very important, because it helps health care workers with reaching a suited and ethical decision when it comes to the patient. In health care, patient will always be put first, and their autonomy will always be respected. Nevertheless, when there is a situation where a patient might be in harm, or might be making their condition worse because of the decisions they made. Health care workers will always be there to
Patients have a right to complain about the doctor's refusal to the Management. Provision of Treatment requires patient’s choice and informed consent. Even if a patient has signed a general consent clause, the patient can still refuse medical treatment or procedures. However, in exceptional or emergency situations a doctor may be legally justified in performing surgery or providing treatment without the patient's consent. The patient should be competent and capable of making such a decision to give a consent.